When my roommate walked in the house with two baby rats six years ago, I never would’ve guessed the impact that would have on my life. Not only are my little boys a daily source of joy and love for me, taking care of them has taught me some very important life lessons. I’m going to share five big ones with you today!
Small Animals, Big Hearts
It seems unfathomable to me now, but before I got acquainted with rats, I used to think the size of an animal was somehow related to its intelligence and ability to feel and express “emotions”, for lack of a better word. I’m probably antropomorphising to a certain degree, but I do firmly believe animals feel some kind of emotion. As I’m around them all the time, I recognise behaviours in the ratties that show different emotional states very clearly, in my opinion. The more time I spend with rats in general, and each one as an individual, the better I get at recognising their body language. Since I’ve learned this language, I’ve been recognising some of it in almost every other animal I see (except for water creatures. No idea what those are all about). This has been a huge factor in my decision to greatly limit my consumption and use of animal products, and thus had a big impact on my life. It’s changed the way I view animals altogether, and the way I choose to interact with them.
Unique Personalities
I find it almost incredible how every single one of the 8 rats I’ve owned so far, has had a completely different personality. They all have their own quircks, preferences and mannerisms. I never would’ve expected that to this degree! Tying in to the first point and through sharing experiences with other pet owners, I firmly believe that this is the case for every animal (or at least all mammals) out there and it has changed the way I see non-human life.
Medical Stuff
As long as I can remember, anything related to doctors, hospitals, needles and bodily fluids has terrified me. Now that I’m responsible for the lives of little creatures, I have to deal with all kinds of weird medical issues regularly. You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve seen by now! I won’t go into detail so as not to gross you out, but had I knowd I’d go through all of this, I’m not sure I would’ve been up for the commitment. Of course I’m happy to do anything that’s needed now to ensure the boys have a life of the best possible quality. It has helped me get used to the world of medicine more and not be as scared of it as I used to be.
Responsibility
When you decide to bring an animal into your home, it becomes your responsibility to provide it with as good a life as possible. This is something I assume most people know, but it’s hard to understand what it truly encompasses until you’ve made the commitment. I’ve always been a responsible person, but that has grown to a whole new level with the ratties. I don’t even want to know where having children will take me, haha!
The Circle Of Life
The biggest downside to having rats as pets: they die so quickly. With an average lifespan of around two years, you know you’ll have to say goodbye to the loving little creatures pretty soon. It’s a horrible experience every time, but it has made me more familiar with life and death, or the circle of life. We live in a society where birth, and death especially, are taboo topics that are best dealth with behind closed doors: discreetly and in private. Death is a mysterious concept to most, and because it’s so unspoken of and unknown it becomes a huge thing to be feared. I have felt this particularly strongly all my life, but experiencing the death of the ratties that I love dearly so up close is helping normalise the process in my mind and making me truly see it as a natural part of life. Inevitably everyone’s time will come at some point, and rather than live in terror of it I’m learning to accept it as something that simply is. So even though this part definitely sucks and is hard, it has proven to be very valuable to me in its own way. Plus, the joy and energy the ratties bring during their short life is more than worth it.
Do you have any pets? If so, has owning them taught you similar life lessons? I’d love to hear!
